Alison vs Lisa
Alison and Lisacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Alison was ranked #70 and Lisa #4 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Alison was ranked #97 and Lisa #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Lisa #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Lisa #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Lisa #795 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Lisa over time
Alison and Lisa appear together in 5 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Alison in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lisa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Alison in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1965, Lisa moved ahead of Alison in New Zealand · Girls — #48 and #66 the year before became #48 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alison and Lisa changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #213 and #443.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alison and Lisa averaged 24.9 places apart, ending at #97 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Lisa were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 38 years, from 1959 to 1996, ending at #97 and #85.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alison #225 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Lisa in 36.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Lisa #3 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Lisa #443.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1959–1996
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lisa in 38.
Highest recorded here: Alison #18 in 1979, Lisa #2 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Alison #97, Lisa #85.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lisa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Lisa #795.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1962–1979
Alison held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lisa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alison #30 in 1966, Lisa #1 in 1968.
The order changed in 1965: Lisa moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #48 and #66; by 1965 that had become #48 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alison #70, Lisa #4.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lisa in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Lisa #63 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Lisa #370.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alison | Lisa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈliː.sə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Norway · Girls #174 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lisa has a recorded origin (Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth); Alison does not have one recorded yet.
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Lisa.
- A meaning is recorded for Lisa; Alison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls